# Thread in which I pit my beloved Chicago Cubs **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 4, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-in-which-i-pit-my-beloved-chicago-cubs/199580 "2003-09-04T18:54:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-in-which-i-pit-my-beloved-chicago-cubs/199580/1 "2003-09-04T18:54:56Z")
5.95, 5.71, 5.48, 5.53, 5.70, 5.89, 6.00, 5.74, 5.51, 5.38, 5.4, 5.8, 5.2, 5.13, 5.67, 5.73. What are those numbers, you may ask? Those are the individual game ERAs for every game Shawn Estes has pitched since May 25th. 16 straight games with an ERA above 5 when the worst pitching team in the NL doesn’t have that poor of an average. 16 straight games giving up 5+ runs when the Cubs average only 4.35 per game. 16 straight games for a team in playoff contention. Trade/cut/demote/sit this pathetic excuse for a major league pitcher. A pretty obvious freaking trend has developed in which the Cubs know they need an outstanding offensive day just to hang close. The Cubs need wins and they keep trotting out the baseball equivalent of Caddyshack II. I’d feel more comfortable seeing Augie Ojeda go to the mound. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-in-which-i-pit-my-beloved-chicago-cubs/199580/2 "2003-09-04T19:02:16Z")
they’re currently up 3-2 over the cards in the second inning. At least the Cubs are waiting until Septermber to break my heart this year. ---
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-in-which-i-pit-my-beloved-chicago-cubs/199580/3 "2003-09-04T19:23:56Z")
God, even if they lost every game for the rest of the season I would be happy if they’d just bench him and go to a four-man rotation. I don’t know why Dusty keeps putting him in. He just hemorrhages runs. They’re killing me this season. I’ve normally given up by mid-August, but now, I have hope where there was no hope before. Each game is excruciating…so I just don’t watch. Or at least, I try not to. ---
**Author:** ![LordVor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90ced4/32.png) [@LordVor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LordVor)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-in-which-i-pit-my-beloved-chicago-cubs/199580/4 "2003-09-04T19:31:19Z")
Just wait until my mighty Brewers sweep them this weekend. 🙂 -lv ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-in-which-i-pit-my-beloved-chicago-cubs/199580/5 "2003-09-04T19:41:24Z")
You know, I almost feel bad for you Cub fans. You’re like a pathetic urchin child who still thinks Santa Claus is real and that he will come to the orphanage to bring you treats and take you away from your miserable lives to go live with your real Mommy and Daddy, who happen to be a wise and patient king and a beautiful, regal queen. They will dote on you, buy you a pony, and you’ll never, ever, have to go hungry again. And then you wake up on a flea-ridden pile of straw and remember that reality is back. Almost brings a tear to my eye. Almost. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-in-which-i-pit-my-beloved-chicago-cubs/199580/6 "2003-09-04T19:43:04Z")
Just waiting until **LordVor’s** mighty Brewers sweep them this weekend. See, I’m a Cardinals fan. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LordVor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90ced4/32.png) [@LordVor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LordVor)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-in-which-i-pit-my-beloved-chicago-cubs/199580/7 "2003-09-04T20:02:10Z")
Yeah, **brianjedi** , your Cardinals are next. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-in-which-i-pit-my-beloved-chicago-cubs/199580/8 "2003-09-04T20:07:54Z")
Here’s your daily [Moment of Zen](http://quote.webcircle.com/cgi-bin/features.cgi?idFeature=4): > [@](#): > > From Lee Elia, Chicago Cubs, Manager, in April, 1983 (before Wrigley Field had lights for night baseball), following a home loss to the Dodgers and in front of writers and microphones: > > F_ck those f_ckin’ fans who come out here and say they’re Cub fans that are supposed to be behind you, rippin’ every f_ckin’ thing you do. I’ll tell you one f_ckin’ thing, I hope we get f_ckin’ hotter than sh_t, just to stuff it up them 3,000 f_ckin’ people that show up every f_ckin’ day, because if they’re the real Chicago f_ckin’ fans, they can kiss my f_ckin’ ass right downtown and PRINT IT. > > They’re really, really behind you around here…my f_ckin’ ass. What the f_ck am I supposed to do, go out there and let my f_ckin’ players get destroyed every day and be quiet about it? For the f_ckin’ nickel-dime people who turn up? The motherf_ckers don’t even work. That’s why they’re out at the f_ckin’ game. They oughta go out and get a f_ckin’ job and find out what it’s like to go out and earn a f_ckin’ living. Eighty-five percent of the f_ckin’ world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. A f_ckin’ playground for the cocks_ckers. Rip them motherf_ckers. Rip them f_ckin’ cocks_ckers like the f_ckin’ players. We got guys bustin’ their f_ckin’ ass, and them f_ckin’ people boo. And that’s the Cubs? My f_ckin’ ass. They talk about the great f_ckin’ support the players get around here. I haven’t see it this f_ckin’ year. Everybody associated with this organization have been winners their whole f\*ckin’ life. Everybody. And the credit is not given in that respect. > > Alright, they don’t show because we’re 5 and 14…and unfortunately, that’s the criteria of them dumb fifteen motherf_ckin’ percent that come out to day baseball. The other eighty-five percent are earning a living. I tell you, it’ll take more than a 5 and 12 or 5 and 14 to destroy the makeup of this club. I guarantee you that. There’s some f_ckin’ pros out there that wanna win. But you’re stuck in a f_ckin’ stigma of the f_ckin’ Dodgers and the Phillies and the Cardinals an all that cheap sh_t. It’s unbelievable. It really is. It’s a disheartening f_ckin’ situation that we’re in right now. Anybody who was associated with the Cub organization four or five years ago that came back and sees the multitude of progress that’s been made will understand that if they’re baseball people, that 5 and 14 doesn’t negate all that work. We got 143 f\*ckin’ games left. > > What I’m tryin’ to say is don’t rip them f_ckin’ guys out there. Rip me. If you wanna rip somebody, rip my f_ckin’ ass. But don’t rip them f\*ckin’ guys ‘cause they’re givin’ everything they can give. And right now they’re tryin’ to do more than God gave 'em, and that’s why we make the simple mistakes. That’s exactly why. Truly a thing of beauty there. ---
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-in-which-i-pit-my-beloved-chicago-cubs/199580/9 "2003-09-04T20:26:15Z")
**Hamlet** , you’re dead to me now. DEAD. ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-in-which-i-pit-my-beloved-chicago-cubs/199580/10 "2003-09-04T21:45:15Z")
Actually, **Mullinator** , the figures you are quoting are the changes to his cumulative season ERA after each of his starts. His individual game ERAs are actually all over the place - 22.50 in his last start before today, 54.00(!) in his start against the ChiSox on 6/20 are the ugliest ones. He actually had a “game” ERA of 0.00 against the Brewers on 6/25 - although the cubs still lost that game. Don’t get me wrong - he does suck. He’s just Exhibit #197 in why Dusty Baker is not a good manager, IMO - he loves those Proven Veterans. I hate the stat, but if you look at Quality Starts (at least 6 IP, no more than 3 ER), Estes has had 4 quality starts in his last 16 starts. That’s ugly. By comparison, Jeremy Bonderman has 7 quality starts in his last 16 starts. FTR, he gave up 5 runs in 5 innings today - another stellar effort. But hey - as I type this, the Cubs are up 7-6 going into the top of the 9th… ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-in-which-i-pit-my-beloved-chicago-cubs/199580/11 "2003-09-05T02:27:22Z")
“Mighty Brewers.” What kinda fucked-up phrase is that? ```auto San Francisco 85-53 .616 ``` 😃